Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
5 comments 
Armed Forces Spend R$ 800 Million Annually on Retired Military. The Model, Defended by the High Experience of Inactives, Faces Criticism for High Cost and Limited Transparency.
If there is one thing the Armed Forces know how to do well, besides defending the national territory, it is managing a million-dollar budget with strategies that leave many questions in the air.
Behind the closed doors of barracks and offices, a discreet yet costly practice has been rapidly expanding: the hiring of retired military personnel for administrative and advisory roles.
This model, which involves figures around R$ 800 million annually, garners praise for its technical efficiency but also faces criticism for its cost and limited transparency.
-
Brazilian city bets on the business environment to generate jobs and attract investments in the energy sector — secretary reveals strategy at Macaé Energy 2026.
-
50 viaducts, 4 tunnels, 28 bridges, and 40 kilometers of bike paths: BR-262 in Espírito Santo will receive 8.6 billion reais for the largest engineering project in the state’s history, inspired by the Immigrant Highway in São Paulo.
-
Brazil produces too much clean energy and doesn’t know what to do with it: over 20% of solar and wind capacity was wasted in 2025 while investors flee and 509 renewable generation projects were abandoned in the last year.
-
Piauí will produce a new fuel that replaces diesel without needing to change anything in the truck’s engine and reduces pollutant gas emissions by half: truck drivers from all over the Northeast are already celebrating the news that will arrive later this decade.
What lies behind this system that benefits thousands of inactives?
In Brazil, 12,681 retired military personnel have returned to active service in the Armed Forces as Temporary Task Providers (PTTC).
These contracts, created in the 1990s, guarantee contractors an additional 30% on their salary and a duration of up to 24 months, extendable for up to ten years.
The practice, which prioritizes captains and colonels, represents 7% of the total military in reserve or retired, estimated at 169,793.
How Does the PTTC Model Work?
Inspired by the American model, the PTTC was introduced to fill personnel shortages in education, healthcare, and advisory roles.
The contractors do not undergo selection processes, being chosen directly by military leadership.
This freedom of choice, referred to as “high discretion,” generates criticism for limited transparency.
According to a survey conducted by Folha de S.Paulo based on the Access to Information Law, the retired contractors receive, on average, R$ 22,694 monthly, a value that can reach R$ 47,000 for general officers.
The Army leads the hiring with 6,190 inactives, followed by the Navy (3,598) and the Air Force (2,893).
Benefits and Criticisms of the Model
Inactive military personnel argue that the system is necessary for the functioning of the Armed Forces.
The Navy, for example, emphasized in a statement that the contractors contribute with “vast professional experience and technical-administrative knowledge.”
The Army and the Air Force also justified the practice as an efficient solution to fill operational gaps.
On the other hand, critics point to the high cost and lack of selection processes as points of concern.
The additional 30% pay is not recorded in the Transparency Portal, making a detailed analysis of expenses difficult.
Secrecy and Controversies
The survey revealed that the Armed Forces have not disclosed detailed information about the activities of these military personnel, citing national security risks.
The Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) validated the secrecy but determined that the ranks and names of the contractors must be disclosed.
Among the contractors are prominent names, such as General Otávio Rêgo Barros, spokesperson for the Bolsonaro government.
He serves as a research manager in the Army, with a salary and benefits commensurate with his experience.
Another controversial figure is Admiral Carlos Alfredo Vicente Leitão, hired by the Navy while voluntarily presiding over the Association of Marine Corps Veterans.
Leitão was one of the signatories of a coup letter by reserve officers in 2022, which sparked debates about the ethical limits of this practice.
Fiscal Impact and Lula Government Reforms
The Lula government initiated a series of reforms to reduce personnel costs in the Armed Forces.
Among the changes is the establishment of a minimum retirement age of 55 and the end of pension payments to families of expelled military personnel.
However, the hiring of PTTCs was not included in the proposals.
The current model generates debate because retired military personnel maintain differentiated benefits compared to civilian retirees, such as full salaries and a shorter service time for retirement.
On the other hand, military careers do not offer rights such as night pay and unionization, which, according to defenders, justifies the maintenance of some privileges.
The Future of the PTTC Model
The Armed Forces maintain that the hiring of retired military personnel is fundamental for the functioning of the institutions.
The high costs, combined with the lack of transparency, generate discussions about the need for greater control and oversight.
Meanwhile, Brazil continues to spend nearly R$ 1 billion annually on a model that seems far from being questioned at the core of strategic decisions. Is this practice really indispensable?
Evangélico é aquele que não gosta de ****
Cabine de emprego, abre concurso, existe mai de mil , incluindo exército, marinha e aeronáutica, que vergonha, ainda tem gente que queria dar golpe, são alta patente, coecam de couro, sufa suga.
Entendo que é viável a contratação ou permanência de militares aposentados ou da reserva pelas necessidades exclusivas das forças armadas mas tbm a exorbitação salarial é preocupante no sentido de promover altos custos para a União enquanto a população sofre para pagar esses erários adicionais. Deviam adotar outros meios de contratação com limites de remuneração independentemente de suas patentes. Valor único